Saint
John Massias, known as the "Helper of the
Poor Souls", offered three rosaries every
night for the souls in Purgatory, praying for
them on his knees despite bodily fatigue. Saint
John also sprinkled holy water on the ground
several times a day for their relief. He also
offered hundreds of short ejaculations ("sudden
short exclamations, especially brief pious utterances
or prayers") as he went around his
regular work, applying the merit of these little
prayers to the Holy Souls. Not a day passed that
St. John didn't unite himself with the priest
at the altar begging the Heavenly Father to grant
all the souls eternal rest through the merits
of Christ's death on Calvary.

The
Holy Souls often appeared to him begging his
powerful intercession, "Give us prayers",
they cried with one voice. "Oh brother John,
you are the friend of the poor and sick! Be our
friend too! Help make us worthy to be with God
and His Blessed ones."